Category Archives: Weather/Climate

Stupid temperature tricks

Posted on March 24, 2009 | Comments Off on Stupid temperature tricks

Watts Up With That documents yet another (number 85, in fact) lazy, half-witted location for a weather service temperature guage. You know, the dandy devices that keep assuring us we’re all going to die from AGW unless we turn our money over to Al Gore? Something tells me the best antitode antidote for run-a-muck government, for once, may be a book – and old-fashioned revolution.

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Dispelling the AGW myth

Posted on March 24, 2009 | Comments Off on Dispelling the AGW myth

Well, trying to, anyhow, before Barry & Co. further ruin the economy with cap and trade.

I have meteorologist friends whose opinions I respect on most things weather subjects who solemnly believe the global warming stuff. But, try as I may, I just can’t accept the idea that puny man could be damaging the whole planet — especially not with a gas which trees and plants need to grow. I do not trust the UN, and the so-called climate models, backed by shrill alarmists like Al Gore and James Hansen, have just never impressed me. There’s too much evidence against them.

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Warm days, cool nights

Posted on March 23, 2009 | Comments Off on Warm days, cool nights

These are the days of spring in Central Texas, and one only wishes they would last all year. With what little rain we’ve had so far, alas, the ditches along the highways aren’t filling with the usual red, yellow and pink flowers, and bluebonnets have hardly made an appearance and probably won’t be abundant in any case. And the scorching days are coming. You can feel them when the early evening hours are still hovering around seventy-five degrees, before the natural dip back into the low sixties.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Beneficial rain

Posted on March 12, 2009 | Comments Off on Beneficial rain

The flood advisory passed away as the rain pretty much stopped at the rancho by late morning. But more is expected overnight tonight and all day tomorrow–none of it likely to be heavy enough to cause flooding, according to KXAN meteorologist Jim Spencer. Just enough to green things up nicely for spring. Good deal.

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Let the flooding begin

Posted on March 12, 2009 | Comments Off on Let the flooding begin

We’re under a flood advisory from the Austin-San Antonio office of the National Weather Service :

"AT 644 AM CDT MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS WERE FALLING AT RATES
APPROACHING AN INCH AN HOUR.  RAINFALL FROM YESTERDAY AND OVERNIGHT
HAS BEGUN TO SATURATE THE SOIL AND AREA CREEKS ARE RESPONDING.
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL THIS MORNING WILL RESULT IN MORE RUNOFF."

LCRA Hydrologic gauges around Austin show almost two inches of rain at many spots in the past forty-eight hours. (Three to four inches seems to be the norm out in the hills.) And more rain is forecast through Saturday. Remains to be seen if this is the big one. But our droughts almost always end with floods.

MORE:  We’re unlikely, however, to get anywhere near the fifteen to eighteen inches we’d need to permanently end the drought, according to KVUE meteorologist Mark Murray. It will help green things up for spring.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Forest fire

Posted on February 28, 2009 | Comments Off on Forest fire

The months-long drought combined with a downed power line due to today’s strong wind started a forest fire in Bastrop County just east of Austin. Ten homes have been destroyed so far, with another two hundred threatened. No rain at all in the forecast, but the wind is expected to subside by tomorrow night.

UPDATE:  At least twenty-three homes and nine businesses taken by the fire through the Bastrop pines so far. More wind forecast tomorrow. SUNDAY: Wind is light and the fire seems to be mostly under control.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Lightning’s fingers

Posted on February 25, 2009 | Comments Off on Lightning’s fingers

Lightning, as you’ve never seen it before. It comes in the first few seconds of the video, so don’t miss it. Of course, you can always play it over again.

Via meteorologist Mark Murray, KVUE.

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Weather/Climate

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